Audrey - the 5 or 10 merchants we keep on hand we buy from the PTO account. The money is given back to the PTO and used to replenish the certificates again. We keep approx $2,000 of grocery store, $1,000 each of two different department stores (because those are the minimums we can buy). Some of the movie certificates and restaurants restaurants can range from a $50 to $250 worth at any one time. Once you see what is selling and what is not, you'll know how much stock to keep. All in all we've probably purchased $4,000-$5,000 to keep on hand.
All parents that buy scrip via the scrip form all prepay at the time of order.
We do exactly like CoPrez. But we have always done it that way - changing over might meet with resistance for you. But since you have impulse buyers, still keep stuff on hand - we do, and people do buy them. They'll remember a birthday or a gift they need. For us, once the routine was established, it was no problem. I am impressed that you've had no problems without prepaying. I imagine that our school would....I wouldn't try it. Good Luck!
To CoPrez, Thank you for your reply. If you keep between 5-10 different merchants on hand, then how are those prepaid? Also by only offering prepay orders is this program a great money maker for your PTO? Thanks Audrey :confused:
We do have our parents pre-pay. We receive scrip orders & money on Friday, order certificates on Monday and deposit the money on Tuesday. Usually their checks don't clear until Wednesday or Thursday and they have their scrip by Thursday or Friday anyway.
We also keep on hand approx 5-10 top sellers depending on the time of year.
We prepay for every fundraiser so this has never been an issue for any of our parents.
Audrey, I agree with you. Until we had a cash flow built up we were ordering on demand and our participation was not good. We are now able to order what we think may(and we pray alot!!)sale and keep a supply on hand. We have about 10 merchants that are kept on hand and others can be ordered on Tues. and received on Thurs.. Our on hand merchants was determined by most requested and it works out really well. Its hard enough to get parents into the routine of buying and if they can receive scrip the same day it helps alot. Good luck and stand your ground!
The ones who are complaining, have they ever worked with scrip? Let them fill orders and answer parent questions and they may change their mind.
Good luck and it sounds like your doing a great job!
I am our PTO's Scrip Co-chair. We use GLS (Great Lakes Scrip) and have been having great success with participation from parents. We currently run the scrip program on a weekly pre-order basis (no pre-paying)as well as keeping heavily requested cards on hand. Once the order from GLS comes in our participants pick up their cards and pay for them. Our PTO Board currently is taking an issue with this procedure, even though we have had no problems collecting the money and our turn around time is excellent. They are pushing for a pre-order/pre-pay only program. I am afraid that we will loose a great deal of customers this way. Many people just can't prepay 1 week ahead of time and that would completely eliminate the spontaneous shopper (which we do have). PLEASE let me know what procedures your SCRIP PROGRAM have???? thank you Audrey
